Line cleaner



June 28, 1960 IT. 5. LQSEY ETAL 2,942,286

LINE CLEANER Filed April 10, 1957 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTORS 3 Thomas B.Loseyv John J. Lane 55 BY o V ffgfgaw QL ATTORNEYS Un t S a s at LINECLEANER ThomasB. Losey and John J. Lane, Dallas, Ten, assignors to TheGuiberson Corporation, Dallas, Tern, a corporation of Texas p Filed Apr.10, 1957, Ser. No. 651,952 7 V 6 Claims. (Cl. -210) This invention isconcerned with a device for cleaning fluid, such as mud, oil or waterfrom a lineor cable as the line or cable is drawn therethrough.

The invention has particular utility in cleaning fluid from lines orcables used in well logging operations. In such operations an electricaldetecting instrument is lowered into the well on a cable, the detectinginstrument being electrically connected to recording instruments,usually located on a truck at the surface. The various formations ofstructure through which the detecting instrument is drawn as the cableis dravm upwardly in the well are recorded on the recording devicelocated at the surface. V

The recording instruments are very sensitive and it is desirable thatthe tension and drag on the line be kept at a minimum in order toprevent undesirable deviations in the recordation and correlation of therecorded information and to prevent undue line.

It has been the practice in the past to provide a cleaning devicedisposed about the line or cable at the surface, through which the lineis drawn, for the purpose of wiping well fluid such as mud, oil andwater from the line so that such fluid will not be deposited on thetruck and delicate equipment thereon. Such fluids are usually laden withcorrosive and caustic material such as salt or acids injected into thewell, and it is desirable .to clean such fluid from the line as it comesout of the well to prevent same from causing corrosion and deteriorationof the line and equipment on the truck;

The most commonly used type of wiper in the past has been a helicalwiping element disposed about the line at the surface which tightens itsgrip when the helix is lengthened by the line being pulled therethrough.Such a wiping device has been unsatisfactory for. several reasons. Thegripping action increases with the line speed thus imposing undue loadon the line, accelerating wear of the line and the wiping element, andcausing undesirable deviations of the recording instruments. It does notclean the line uniformly and efliciently. Moreover, it isuni-directional in that it must be removed from the line while the lineis being lowered into the well. the use of helical type wiping elementsby reason of the undue tension and drag placed on the line, and theexcessive wear imparted thereto.

Therefore there has long been a need for a line cleaning device whichwill efliciently clean undesirable fluid from the line as it iswithdrawn from the well and at the same time reduce the drag on the lineto a minimum.

The device which is comprehended by this invention satisfies theserequirements.

Although this line cleaning device is particularly useful in wiping andcleaning fluid from a line or cable used in well logging operations, itwill be understood that it is also usable for cleaning wire lines orcables in any well operation such as swabbing, perforating, wire linecementwear and damage to the ing, callipering, wire line packersettings, and other operfluid from the line.

Many line breakages have been directly traced to j ations where a wireline or cable is lowered into and withdrawn from a well. Although it isadapted for cleaning vertically disposed lines, it will be understoodthat it could also be employed for cleaning horizontally disposed lineswhich may be drawn therethrough.

Generally the invention comprehends a pair of rotatably mounted wheelsor rollers having resilient cleaning elements disposed about the outerperiphery thereof with peripheral channels in the outer surface of thecleaning elements :which are arranged to embrace and clean a wire lineor cable as the line orcable is drawn between the contacting cleaningelements on the wheels. As the cable is drawnbetween the contactingcleaning elements the wheels are caused to rotate by the motion of theline and the cleaning elements squeeze and wipe the One of the wheels isarranged to be shifted away from and to the other wheel to permit theline to be engaged between the peripheral cleaning elements on thewheels, and means is provided for adjusting the degree of engagement ofthe cleaning elements with the line. Substantially all of the load isadsorbed by the bearings supporting the wheels and frictional drag isreduced to a minimum.

Thus there is no perceptible drag on the line which could causeundesirable deviation of the recording instruments, the line isprotected and preserved, and the line and the cleaning and wipingelements are long-lasting; The rotating cleaning elements also removesub.- stantially all fluid from the line.

In using the device comprehended by this invention the frictional dragon the line is so slight that even though the device is very light,weighing approximately 20 lbs., it will remainin place withoutanchoring, and will not ride up the line, even at high line speeds ofmore than 600. feet per minute. The tension on the line remains uniformat all line speeds and there is no perceptible stretch of the line, thusassuring accurate recordation and correlation of recorded information inwell logging operations.

It is also unnecessary to remove the line cleaner device from the linewhilethe line is being lowered into the well, because there is noundesirable frictional drag as the line is moved in either direction. I

,It is therefore a primary object of this invention to provide aline'cleaning device wherein theload imposed on the line cannot bedetected by delicate logging instruments. I

Another important objct of this invention is to provide a line cleaningdevice which efliciently cleans the line of undesirable fluids withoutimposing undue load on the line. V I H Another object of the inventionis to provide a line cleaning device which removes substantially allfluid from the line as it is withdrawn from the well and'keeps theequipment on the truck at the surface free of corrosiveand' causticliquids, and also preserves the line by keeping it dry and clean as itis stored on the truck. 7

A still further object of this invention is to provide a line cleaningdevice which is safe, simple and easy to operate, and assurestrouble-free operation.

Still another. object of the invention is to provide a linecleaningdevice which is light in weight and completely portable.

A further object of this invention is to provide a line cleaning devicein which the cleaning elements are not subjected to undue friction andare therefore long-lived, and such cleaning elements are quickly andeasily replaced.

A still further object of the invention is to provide a line cleaningdevice which is bi-directional in that the line maybe moved through itin either direction without re,- moving the cleaning device therefrom.

Patented June 28, 1960 7 Another object is to provide a line cleaningdevice which may be quickly and easily opened for placing it about theline.

A still further object of the invention is to provide a line cleaningdevice in which the engagement of the cleaning elements about the linemay be quickly and easily adjusted while the line is being drawntherethrough to provide the optimum of wiping efiiciency at any linespeed.

Another object of the invention is to provide a line cleaning devicewhich has retractable and extensible support legs thereon to provide foreasy portage and storage.

Another object of the invention is to provide a line cleaning devicehaving guards thereon arranged to deflect fluid removed from the lineback into the well, thus keeping the rig floor and surface equipmentclean.

Other and further objects of the invention will become apparent uponreading the detailed specification hereinafter following and byreferring to the drawings annexed hereto and made a part hereof.

A suitable embodiment of the invention is shown in the drawings inwhich:

Figure I is a side elevational view of a line cleaning deviceincorporating our invention.

Figure II is a top plan view of the line cleaning device which issectioned on the line II--Il of Fig. I to disclose the details ofconstruction and mounting of the cleaner supporting wheels. 7

Figure III is a bottom plan view of the line cleaning device.

Figure IV is a perspective view of the line cleaning device, showing thesupport legs angularly extended to support the device.

Figure V is an elevational end view of the line cleaning device takenfrom the right end of Figure I.

Figure V1 is a side elevational view of the line cleaning device showingone of the wheels pivoted to open position to permit a line to be placedbetween the wheels.

In the drawings numeral references are employed to indicate the variousparts of the device shown therein, and like numerals indicate like partsthroughout the various figures of the drawings. a

The numeral 1 indicates generally a suitable mounting base or frame forthe line cleaning device, it being understood that the frame may takeother forms than that shown.

The frame 1, as shown, consists of a channel member, preferably made oflight weight material, such as aluminum, which has a bottom portion 2and upwardly extending parallel side flanges 3 and 4.

An angled tab 5, having a hole 7 therein, is secured at each end of theside flange 3 by means of suitable rivets 6. Chains or other securingdevices may be inserted through the holes 7 to anchor the device at thewell head, should such anchoring be desirable. However, ordinarily itwill not be necessary to anchor the device if it is supported on a flatsurface by the extended legs 8, 9 and 10, since the fricitonal drag ofpulling the line through the device is so small that the device has notendency to ride up the line, even at high line speeds. However, theremay be conditions wherein the device cannot be supported on a flatsurface by the legs 8, 9 and 10, and in such event it would be desirableto anchor the device by means of the tabs 5.

The legs 8, 9 and 10 are preferably made of tubula members-of lightweight metal, such as aluminum, in the interest of lightness in weight.It will be understood, however, that the legs could be made as solidrods and of any suitable material. v

The legs 8, 9 audit) are hinged to the mounting base 1 so that they maybe rotated to fold underneath the mounting base for the purpose ofproviding easy portage and compactness in storage. Eachof the legs 3,9and 10 is rotatably mounted to the mounting base 1 by means of a bearingblock 11 attached to the inner end thereof.

A bolt 12, having a hexed wrench engaging recess 13 in the head thereof,extends through each of the bearing blocks 11 from the underside thereofand through the bottom 2 of the base 1 and is secured at the upper sideof the bottom 2 by means of a lock nut 14, a washer 15 being interposedbetween the lock nut 14 and the base 2. A spring washer 16 is interposedbetween each of the bearing blocks 11 and the bottom 2 of the base 1 toprovide for tensioned rotation of the legs 8, 9 and 10 on the bolts 12to cause the legs to remain in pre-determined position in the absence ofrotative force exerted thereagainst. It will thus be seen that the legs8, 9 and 10 may be rotated on the bolts 12 to permit the legs to beextended outwardly or to be retracted under the base.

A pair of wheels or rollers 20 and 21 are rotatably supported on thebase 1 in the manner which will be hereinafter described.

Each of the wheels 20 and 21, as shown, includes an outer rim 22 and aninner ring 23 (Fig. II) which are joined by peripherally spaced spokes24 connected by webs 24a. It will be understood that the wheels orrollers 20 and 21 may take several forms. They can be solid rollers, orthe webs between the spokes could be eliminated, as desired. For thepurpose of lightness in weight it is desirable that the wheels and asmany of the other metallic parts of the device as possible be made oflight weight material, such as aluminum.

Each of the wheels 20 and 21 has an annular channel 25 formed in theouter surface of the rim 22. The channels 25 should be deep enough toreceive and confine the resilient cleaner elements 26 to assume intimatecontact of the annular recesses 28 with the cable when the cable ispositioned between the wheels.

A cleaner and wiper element 26 which takes the form of a tire or ring,preferably made of resilient material such as natural or syntheticrubber compound, is disposed about each wheel 20 and 21 in the channels25. The resilient ring or tire 26 is preferably made slightly less ininternal diameter than the outer diameter of the channel 25 so that thetire may be stretched and forced about the rim 22 and disposed in thechannel 25 in tight impinging engagement therewith, in order to assurethat the tire will not slip about the rim. The tires 26 could of coursebe made of any other suitable material of resilient nature, such asplastic.

Each of the tires or rings 26 preferably has outwardly extendingmarginal lips or flanges 27 thereon which overlie the outer edges of therim 22 when the tire 26 is disposed in the channel 25.,

A send-circular annular recess or groove 28 is formed about the outerperiphery of each of the tires or rings 26 so that when the wheels 20and 21 are brought together to cause the resilient tires 26 to come intoengagement, as shown in Figure 11, there is formed a circular passage 29through the contacting resilient rings 26 to thereby provide a passagethrough which the wire line or cable 85 may be drawn to wipe and cleanthe surface of such wire line or cable.

It will be noted that the outwardly extending lips 27 onthe tires 26come into engagement when the tires are disposed about the cable or line85 being cleaned to thereby form opposed resilient cushions which may betightly pressed together to form sealed joints through which fluid wipedfrom the cable does not pass, and substantially all of the fluid removedfrom the cable is directed downwardly into the well. The resilient lips27 may b compressed to permit the inward adjustment of the wheelstoadjust the cleaning elements 26 into the proper impinging engagementwith the cable 85 to thereby assure that the cable will be cleaned offluid as it passes between the cleaning elements. As the cable 85 isdrawn between the resilient cleaning elements 26 the wheels 20 and 21are caused to rotate and the fluid adhering to the cable is actuallysqueezed from the cable. The impinging engagement between the cleanerelements pin and the outer face of the side'fiange 4;

r in assembled position;

and the cable 85 should preferably betight "enough so that the resilientmaterial of the cleaner element is caused to enter any irregularities inthe outer surface of the cable as it is drawn therethrough to'therebyassure that all fluid will be removed from the cable.,

, The tires 26 may be made with diiferent size grooves 28 fit differentdiameter of cables and wire lines, it being a simple procedure to changethetires by simply stretching one tire off the rim of the wheelandstretching another about the wheel in its place.

., Each of the Wheels and 21 is rotatably mounted on roller bearings and30a which are identical in construction and mounting. The bearings 30and 30a in each wheel are spaced apart and held in place with referenceto the inner ring 23 by means of a removable split retaining ring 31,the outer edge of which isdisposed in an annular groove 33 on the innerside of the ring 23 and the inner edge of the ring 31 is disposedbetween the bearings 30 and 30a. A spacer .ring32 is disposed betweenthe bearings30 and 30a about the bolts or axles onwhich the Wheels aremounted. V r Thebearings 30 and 30a in, the wheel20 are rotatablymounted on the frame 1 by means of a bolt or axle 34 which passesthrough the bearings and through the vertical wheel mounting'bracket 35.The wheel mounting bracket 35 is fixed to the side flange 3 by means ofa pairof bolts and nuts 41 and 42. A spacer and retainer Washer 36 is,disposed about the bolt 34 between the bracket 35 andtherinner face ofthe bearing 30. The bolt 34 passes through the irinerend of the link 37,which link isjpivoted about the bolt 34 on the bushing 38, disposed inthe passage; through the link. Ashim or washer 39'is disposedabout thebolt 34 between the link 37 and the lock nut 40L- The lock nut 40 isthreadedly engaged to the outer endlof the bolt 34 to retain the bolt inplace and retainthebearings and link in assembled position. A bolt oraxle 43 passes through the bearcured about the bolt43 at its upper endand is pivotally *mounted to thefrarne 1 by means of a pin 47 which ro-'tatably passes through the flanges 3 and 4 and is secured 'to the lowerend of the mounting post 46. The'pin 47 V is held in place by means of acotter pin 49 which passes through a hole in the'outer'end'thereofj'there being a Washer 50'disposed about the pin 47 between the cotter Thebolt 43 extends through a shim'51 and through the outer end of the wheeladjusting arm 52. The shim 51 'is interposed between the wheel mountingpost 46 and the wheeladjusting arm 52. The wheel adjusting arm 52 Awasher 54 is disposed about the shaft 43 bolt' 43 'to retain the bolt inplace and hold the parts An adjusting nut 58 is secured to the upper endof the wheel adjusting arm 52 by means of a weld 59. The

adjusting nut 58 is interially threaded to receive the threaded'end 65of the adjusting shaft 61. The adjusting 'sl1'aft61includes an enlargedouter handle 60 having a knurled surface thereon'topermit ease inrotation of the adjusting shaft. The adjusting shaft 61 rotatably .ex-

tends through-a sleeve 62, there being a washer 63 interposedbetween"the handle 60 and the sleeve 62. A re- .rnovable retaining pin 64extends through the shaft 61 to retain the adjusting shaftin place afterbeing inserted throughthe sleeve 62.. The threaded end 65 of the ad- Theadjusting sleeve arm 66 is seceured to the adjusting sleeve 62 by meansof a weld 67. The outer end of the link 37 is pivotally attached to theouter end of the arm 66 by means of a screw 70 which passes through thelink 37 and the arm 66 and is secured in place by means of a lock nut73, there being a washer 72 interposed between the nut 73 and the arm66.

The arm 66 may rotate about the screw 70 on a bushing 71, disposed inthe passage through the arm.

A mud guard, generally indicated at 75, is attached to the frame 1 andincludes a substantially U-shaped support member 76, one side 77 of suchsupport 76 being arranged to overlap the underside of the base 1. A pairof upwardly extending deflector plates 78and 79 are secured to thesupport 76 by means of welds 80 and 80a, such deflector plates 78 and 79extending upwardly on each side of the contacting wiping elements 26 onthe wheels 20 and 21. The mud guard 75 is secured to the frame 1 bymeans of a bolt 81 which passes through the upwardly extending guard 78and through the side flanges 3 and 4. The bolt 81 is secured in place tothe frame 1 by means of a lock nut 82 threaded on the inner end thereof.Each of the deflectors 78 and 79 has an outwardly angled portion 83, andthe upper ends thereof are curled inwardly, as indicated at 84. Thefluid removed from the wire line or cable 85, as it is drawn between thewheels 20 and 21, is intercepted by the upwardly extending deflectors 78and 79, and caused to flow back into the well, thus preventing any mudor fluid from being deposited. on the rig floor or on equipmentsurrounding the line cleaning device.

The operation and function of the line cleaning device is described asfollows:

When it is desired to place the cleaning device in operative position toremove fluid from a wire line or cableextending into the well, the legs8, 9 and 10 may be unfolded to extend angularly outwardly as shown inFigure IV. The device is then deposited on such legs on a flat surfacesuch as the rig floor or rotary table so that the wheels 20 and 21 arein position to receive 'the cable 85 extending into the well. The handle60 is then grasped and pulled upwardly, thereby pivoting the link 37arcuately upwardly to the position shown in Figure VI. Such movementcauses the wheel 21 to be shifted away from the wheel 20, the post 46being caused to pivot with the bolt 48 as the arm 52 pivots about thebolt 43, thereby moving the bolt 43 and the wheel 21 longitudinally ofthe frame to the position shown in Figure VI.

It will be noted that when the wheels 20 and 21 are brought together inthe positionshown in Figure I the pivotal connection between the link 37and arm 66 is over center with reference to the pivotal connectionbetween the bracket 35 and the arm 37, thereby causing the wheels toremain in such closed position until upward force is exerted against thehandle 60.

Also when the handle 60 is in upraised position as shown in Figure VIthese above indicated pivot points are over center with reference toeach other so that the wheels 20 and 21 remain in open position untildownward force is exerted on'the handle 60. V

After the wheels 20 and 21 have thus been separated as shown in FigureVI, the cable 35 is placed in position to be received in the annularrecesses 28 on the outer periphery of the tires 26 when the wheels arebrought together, The handle 60 is then shifted arcuatelyv downwardly tobring the wheels together, with the cable 85 disposed in thepassage 29formed by the complementary annular recesses 28. V "In the event thereis no flat surface surrounding the well opening on which the legs 8, 9and 10 may rest theline' cleaning device may be anchoredin place by achainattached to the tabs 5 and to some structure adja'cent the Wellhead. The operation described above may then be carried out.

The tightness of engagement of the resilient cleaning elements with thecable 85 may be adjusted by rotating the handle 60, thereby causing theadjusting nut 58 to travel inwardly or outwardly on the threads 65, asdesired. Such adjustment will be made to cause the resilient tires 26 totightly embrace the cable to assure that all fluid will besqueezed andflowed from the cable.

When it is desired to remove the wiper device from the cable it is onlynecessary to again lift up on the handle 60 to shift the wheel 21 awayfrom the wheel 20 in the manner hereinbefore described.

The engagement of the tires 26 with the cable 85 may be adjusted whilethe cable is being drawn through the wheels by merely rotating thehandles 60 to thereby secure optimum cleaning at different line speeds.

After the cable 85 has been so engaged between the wheels 29 and 21, thecable may be drawn upwardly out of the well and as it is drawn upwardlythe wheels 20 and 21 are caused to rotate in opposite directions and thewell fluid adhering to the cable is squeezed therefrom by the resilienttires or rings 26.

Most of'the fluid squeezed from the cable is directed downwardly intothe well but such fluid as may be directed laterally is intercepted bythe upwardly extending deflectors 78 and 79 and caused to flow back intothe well. The load imparted by the withdrawal of the cable issubstantially all transferred to the hearings in the wheels 20 and 2,1and there is no appreciable amount of drag imparted to the cable 35. Thefluid is removed from the cable by a squeegeeing action and the cable issubstantially dry after passing between the resilient wiper elements 26.

The frictional drag between the resilient cleaning elements and thecable is so slight that the device has no tendency to climb up the cableeven though the cable is withdrawn between the wheels at very highspeed.

The line cleaning device has many other applications than thoseindicated. For instance it could be made to serve as a depthometer, bysimply gearing one of the wheels 20 or 21 to a counter, such as aVeedenRoot counter, to measure the approximate depth of the Well. Alsoby mounting two of the wiper devices at right angles to each other, oneabove the other, it could be made to serve as a guide for the line.

The resilient wiper elements 26 will also permit measuring flags to passtherethrough without aifecting the operation of the device.

It will be understood that various other forms of the invention could bedevised without departing from the spirit and scope of the appendedclaims.

From the foregoing it will be seen that we have provided a cleaningdevice for wire lines and cables used in well operations which is simplein construction, easy to operate, light in weight, provides maximumcleaning elnciency and which imposes minimum drag and tension on thewire line or cable as it is drawn therethrough, resulting in maximumpreservation of wire lines and cables and equipment used in connectiontherewith, and permits more accurate recordation of data secured in welllogging operations.

' We claim:

1. In a device of the class described, a frame; a pair of wheels, eachbeing rotatably mounted on an axle carried by the frame; a resilientcleaning element disposed about the rim of each wheel; said cleaningelements having coinciding channels on the outer sides thereof arrangedto form an embracing passage about a line drawn between the wheels; oneof said wheels being pivotally mounted to the frame; an operatinghandle; an adjusting nut attached to the axle of the pivotally mountedwheel, one end of the said handle being threadedly engaged with theadjusting nut; means to prevent longitudinal movement of the handle uponrotation thereof; 'and means for pivotally mounting the handle withreference to the frame, whereby the pivotally mounted wheel may be movedtoward or away from the other wheel by rotation of the handle, and thepivotally mounted wheel may be shifted toward or away. from the otherwheel by longitudinal movement of the handle.

2. In a device of the class described, a frame; a pair of wheels, eachbeing rotatably mounted on an axle carried by the frame; a resilientcleaning face extending about the outer periphery of each wheel; saidcleaning faces having coinciding channels thereabout arranged to form anembracing passage about a line drawn between the wheels; one of said,wheels being pivotally mounted to the frame; an operating handle; anadjusting'nut attached to the axle of the pivotally mounted wheel; oneend of the said handle being threadedly engaged with the adjusting nut;means to prevent longitudinal movement of the handle upon rotationthereof; and means for pivotally mounting the handle with reference tothe frame, whereby the pivotally mounted wheel may be moved toward oraway from the other wheel by rotation of the handle, and the pivotallymounted wheel may be shifted toward or away from the other wheel bylongitudinal movement of the handle.

3. In a device of the class described, a frame; a pair of wheels, eachbeing rotatably mounted on an axle carried by the frame; a resilientcleaning element disposed about the rim of each wheel, said cleaningelements having coinciding channels on the outer sides thereof arrangedto form an embracing passage about a line drawn between the wheels; oneof said wheels being pivotally mounted to the frame and the other saidwheel being fixed with reference to the frame; an operating handle; anadjusting nut attached to the axle of the pivotally mounted wheel, oneend of the said handle being threadedly engaged with the adjusting nut;means to prevent longitudinalmovement of the handle upon rotationthereof; a link pivotally mounted to the handle at one end and pivotallycarried about the axle of the fixed wheel at the other end, the pivotalconnection of said link to the handle being arranged to go over centerin two positions with reference to the pivotal connection between thelink and the axle of the fixed wheel, whereby the pivotally mountedwheel may be moved toward or away from the fixed wheel by rotation ofthe handle, and the pivotally mounted wheel may be shifted toward oraway from the other wheel by longitudinal movement of the handle.

4. In a device of the class described, a frame; a pair of wheels, eachbeing rotatably mounted on an axle carried by the frame; a resilientcleaning element, disposed about the rim of each wheel, said cleaningelements having coinciding channels on the outer sides thereof arrangedto form an embracing passage about a line drawn between the wheels; oneof said wheels being pivotally mounted to the frame and the other saidwheel being fixed with reference to the frame; an operating handle; anadjusting nut attached to the axle of the pivotally mounted wheel, oneend of the said handle being threadedly engaged with the adjusting nut;means to prevent longitudinal movement of the handle upon rotationthereof; a link pivotally mounted to the handle at one end and pivotallycarried about the axle of the fixed wheel at the other end, the pivotalconnection of said link to the handle being arranged to go over centerwith reference to the pivotal connection between the link and the axleof the fixed wheel when the pivotally mounted wheel is shifted intocontact with the fixed wheel, whereby the pivotally mounted wheel may bemoved toward or away from thefixed wheel by rotation of the handle, andthe pivotally mounted wheel may be shifted toward or away from the otherwheel by longitudinal movement of the handle.

about the outer periphery of each wheel; one of said wheels beingpivotally mounted to the frame and the other saidwheel being fixed withreference to the frame; an operating handle; an adjusting nut attachedto the axle of the pivotally mounted wheel, one end of the said handlebeing threadedly engaged with the adjusting nut; means to preventlongitudinal movement of the handle upon rotation thereof; a linkpivotally mounted to the handle at one end and being pivotally supportedat the other end with relation to the frame, the pivotal connection ofsaid link to the handle being arranged to go over center in twopositions with reference to the pivotal connection between the other endof the link and its pivotal support, whereby the pivotally mounted wheelmay be movd toward or away from the fixed wheel by rotation of thehandle, and the pivotally mounted wheel may be shifted toward or awayfrom the fixed wheel by longitudinal movement of the handle. 7

6. In a device of the class described, a frame; a pair of wheels, eachbeing rotatably mounted on an axle carried by the frame; a resilientcleaning face extending about the outer periphery of each wheel; one ofsaid wheels being pivotally mounted to the frame and the other saidwheel being fixed with reference to the frame;

an operating handle; an adjusting nut attached to the axle of thepivotally mounted wheel, one end of the said handle being threadedlyengaged with the adjusting nut;

means to prevent longitudinal movement of the handle upon rotationthereof; a link pivotally mounted to the handle at one end and beingpivotally supported at the other end with relation to the frame, thepivotal connec-' tion of said link to the handle being arranged to goover center with reference to the pivotal connection between the otherend of the linkand its support when the pivotally mounted wheel isshifted into contact with the fixed wheel, whereby the pivotally mountedwheel may be'moved toward or away from the fixed wheel by rotation ofthe handle, and the pivotally mounted wheel may be shifted toward oraway from the other wheel by 1011- gitudinal movement of the handle.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS1,485,435 Shenk Mar. 4, 1924 2,552,921 Anderson May 15, 1951 2,651,959Harrington Sept. 15, 1953 2,703,423 Hunt Mar. 8, 1955

